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Plasma dust crystallizationIn a ground-based definition study, a concept for a new type of microgravity experiment is developed. We formed a new state of matter: a crystalline lattice structure of charged micron-size spheres, suspended in a charge-neutral plasma. The plasma is formed by a low-pressure radio-frequency argon discharge. Solid microspheres are introduced, and they gain a negative electric charge. They are cooled by molecular drag on the ambient neutral gas. They are detected by laser light scattering and video photography. Laboratory experiments have demonstrated that a two-dimensional nonquantum lattice forms through the Coulomb interaction of these spheres. Microgravity is thought to be required to observe a three-dimensional structure.
Document ID
19950008157
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Goree, John (Iowa Univ. Iowa City, IA, United States)
Thomas, H. (Iowa Univ. Iowa City, IA, United States)
Morfill, G. (Iowa Univ. Iowa City, IA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: NASA. Lewis Research Center, Second Microgravity Fluid Physics Conference
Subject Category
Plasma Physics
Accession Number
95N14571
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG8-292
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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